SimpleMind 1.2

SimpleMind is intended for creating mind maps. It has the advantage of allowing you to share them with many other users, thanks to its support of cloud storage services.

It is especially useful for brainstorming tasks, in which emphasis is placed on representing ideas and their relationships in a quick and easy way. As said, this tool helps you work on your mind maps “on the fly”; still, this does not mean you cannot take your time later to change the map’s layout and format.

Although the app is quite easy to use, even more so if you have had previous experience with this type of tool, it is good that it comes with a sample mind map, which serves as a demonstration of what you can do with it.

Every time you start SimpleMind, you will find that there is a central node already there for you. From it, you can start adding other elements, such as linked topics, pictures and other text. It is as simple as clicking on the “Plus” sign next to the node and start typing. Unlike other similar tools, it does not allow adding video or recording audio.

Luckily, a map can grow as much as it becomes necessary and you can use the Zoom tool to focus on a given element or have a picture of the whole map. It is even possible to have various maps on a single page.

Fortunately, the appearance of your maps can be changed by going to Settings. Luckily, there are various themes to choose from. Moreover, you can also pick your favorite layout and direction. It is also possible to change the type of default links as well as the fonts.

Once your map is ready, you can send it to portable Apple devices (iPad and iPhone) using iPhoneLink, which works device-to-device via local Wi-Fi. Similarly, the map can become available for any type of device if you upload it to Dropbox. Another option is to email or save the map in other formats, such as PDF, PNG, HTML or TXT.

All in all, what is most convenient about Simple Mind is that it allows creating a map mind just as you would draw it on a board. Besides, the possibility of sharing your mind maps without much trouble is also an asset. There are versions of this product for not only Mac but also Windows, iPad, iPhone and Android devices. Similarly, some versions are free and others paid. Good to hear that there is even a trial available.